Starting switch for motor vehicles



June 3, 1924. v 1,495,998

- Y C. F. GILCHRIST ET AL STARTING SWITCH FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Nov. 30. 1917 Ho man,

Patented June 3 1924. i

uNrrr-io STATES PATENT" ormce.

CLARENCE F. GILCHRIST AND WALTER E. RICHTER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE ELECTRIC AUTO-LITE COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO,

-A CORPORATION OF OHIO."

STARTING- SWITCH FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application filed November 30, 1917. Serial No. 204,629.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CLARENCE F. GIL- CHRIST and WALTER E. RICHTER, citizens of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting Switches for Motor Vehicles, of which we declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to starting switches for motor vehicles.

An object of this invention is to provide a starting pedal or switch, to be used in connection with astarting motor, which may be readily actuated by the foot.

Another object is to'so dispose the necessary elements of the switch, as to permit of marked ease of operation.

A further object is to provide a switch, the motor parts of-whichmay be constructed of simple metal stampings.

Still another object is to utilize, in connection with the switch, an electrical connection which will automatically maintain itself in efiicient condition.

Further objects, and objects relating to economies of manufacture and details of construction, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

We accomplish the objects of our invention in one instance by the devices described in the following specification.

A structure constituting a preferred em-v bodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which: i

Figure I is a plan viewshowing the starting switch.

Figure II is a sectional elevation taken on the line IIII of Figure I.

Figure III is a transverse sectional view 'taken onthe line I IIIII' of Figs. I and eneral rectangular outline as disclosed in igure III. Laterally extending wings 4 form continuations from the recess edges 5.

Inserted axially within the cavity 3 is the switch proper, which consists of a resilient metal strip 6 of general arcuate outline, the end of which has a reversely curved lip 7. The other end of the strip is apertured as at 8 to receive the attaching bolt 9. This bolt has a head 10, andbody'll'g and is attached to the casing 1 by means of nuts 13, which fit'over the threaded end 14. The bolt 9, has an additional function, in that it serves as the binding post terminal for the electrical circuit connection 15, to which it is attached by a third nut 16. In order to give greater stifi'ness to the resilient stri 6, a second resilient strip 17 is interposed beinsulate the bolts 9 and 19, and the strips] 6 and 17- from the casing, there is provided a U-shapedinsulatin strip 24 made of fibre, or any material wit non-conducting properties, which is adapted 'to cover the sidesv ,and base of the cavity 3 and to serve as washers for the bolt heads 10 and 18. Ad'- ditional insulating washers 25 and'26' are also provided -whereby the possibility of short circuits in the switch connections is entirely removed.

'neath the contact or primary strip 6, hav- The edge projections or wings 4 have I apertures 27, which are adapted to register with apertures in' the cover stamping 2, through which apertures the rivets 28 tor binding the parts together, and the screws or bolts for attaching the switch to its support, are inserted. The upper stamping 2 is the cover of the switch and is adapted to support the actuating rts. For this purpose, the central portlon 'ofthe part 2 is stamped to form a circular cap or housing 29,'the base of which is further stamped to form a circular apertured collar or hearing plctes its downward movement.

downward, or is parallel with the cup walls and the lower edge has a marginal flange 37, forming a. bearing on the inner walls ofthe cover plate cup 29. The sides of the cup bearing 34, extend beyond the ed es of the collar 30, so that the cup is capab e of sliding movement within the collar hearing. The pedal button 33 consists of a circular head 38, a body 39, and a circular recessed terminal 40, adapted to fit over the cup base 41, to which it is ri idly attached by means of a rivet 42. The ottom of the button 33 is hollowed out so that it will extend over the upstanding collar 30, and has an abutment 43, against which the collar will engage when the button 33 is pressed downwardly. Within the cu 34 and frictionally held thereby, is inser the non-conducting cylinder or plunger 35.

In the operation of the switch, the button 33 is pressed downwardly. The resilient strip 6, by this movement, is forced into contact with the bolt head .18, thereby completing a circuit between the two electrical terminals 15 and 22, before the button com- Further descent of the pedal button 33 will tend to straighten out the contact strip 6, since the downward motion of'the terminal 7 is arrested, and the lip terminal will therefore wipe over the bolt head 18, thereby keeping the contact area smooth and free of dust, and insuring good electrical conduction at this point. In addition,as. the spring strip straightens out, the area of contact increases between the'bolt head 18, and spring 6, thus reducing the resistance to the passage of current. The current resistance is further decreased by the auxiliary spring 17, which, in addition to its supporting function, serves as a second conductor .for the electric current. The curved terminal of the second strip' permits free sliding engagement between itself and the primary conducting stri '6.

en the pressure on the starting button is removed, the combined spring action of the strips 6 andv 17 will force the connecting cylinder 35 holding cup 34 and button 33,

upwardly, until the shoulder 36, 6f the cup contacts with the inner shoulder 32, of the casin' recess 2 9,when further motion is pre-' I vente plunger 35, the strip term nal 7 slides in In this upward movementof the masses wardly on the bolt head 18, and by virtue of the increased curvature of the end part,

there is a decrease in the area of contact,

thereby increasing the electrical resistance,.

what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric switch the combination of a casing; a plunger axially slidable through the casing; a plurality of binding post terminals in said casing and insulated therefrom; a resilient, downwardly curved, connecting strip fastened at one end to one of said terminals, and adapted, when actuated by the plunger, to contact, at its other end, with another of said binding post terminals; said strip having a reversed curvature adjacent its free end, whereby the contest area between the binding post and strip increases with the further downward movement of the plunger after a contact is established.

2. In an electric switch the combination of a casing; a plunger axially slidable through the casing; binding post terminals attached to the casing; a contact strip in the casing adapted to be" depressed by said plunger and secured, at one end, to one of the binding post terminals and having de- I .tachable engagement at its other end, with another of said terminals; said strip being downwardly curved, intermediate the two mentioned terminals and upwardly. curved adjacent the second mentioned terminal, the v strip making initial contact at the upwardly curved portion and, as the plunger is further depressed, making contact at the point of curvature reversal.

3. In an electric switch, a plate having a cup shaped recess formed therein the bottom wall of which has an opening, a bearing member having one portion constructed to have sliding engagement .vith the walls of the said opening and another portion constructed to have slidin engagement with the sides of said recess, t e two bearin portions being separated from one an'ot er in the (111130131011 of motion and one of said members having means adapted to engage the other member to limit relative movement in one direction.

4. In an electric switch, a plate having a recess formed therein, the bottom wall of which has an opening, a member having a portion adapted to have sliding engagement ill I of said recess spaced from the said portion,

and an intermediate shoulder for engaging the bottom of said recess to limit relative movement in one direction.

5. In a switch casing, a sheet metal plate having an integral cup-shaped projection formed therein, said projection having an opening in the end wall thereof, a plunger having a flared portion and having a two point bearing with said plate, one of said bearings being with said opening in the end of said projection and the other being between said flared portion and the inner surface of the side wall of said projection.

6. In a switch casing, a sheet metal plate having an integral cylindrical projection formed therein, the end wall of said projection having an aperture of less diameter than said projection, a sheet metal plunger adapted to slide in said projection and to have a plurality of spaced bearings therewith, one of said bearings being with said aperture and another bem with the inner surface of the side wall oi said projection.

7. In an electric switch, the combination of a casing having a cup-shaped recess formed on one side thereof and having a flanged aperture in its-base, of a diameter less than that of the recess; a cup-shaped button; an actuating plunger held within the said bearing; binding ost terminals attached to the opposite si e of said casing and insulated therefrom; and resilient bridging means rigidly attached to one of. saidterminals and adapted when compressed by the plunger to make sliding contact with another of the terminals, thereby completing an electrical circuit through the switch. In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

CLARENCE F. GILCHRIST.' WALTER E. RICHTER. 

